USMNT finally in its rightful place? Ends 2021 as CONCACAF best ranked nation

After a 2021 that had more ups than downs for the Stars and Stripes, the USMNT finished 11 on the FIFA Ranking, even over Mexico, a sign that some people could take as the Americans becoming the CONCACAF Giant. And numbers seem to support that theory.

With 1648.51 points, USMNT moved up one spot from the previous ranking, released by FIFA in November. Even though Gregg Berhalter’s squad didn’t make it to the Top 10, US National Team couldn’t have asked for a better way of closing 2021.

On the last game of the year, a friendly match against Bosnia and Heregovina, the Stars and Stripes won 1-0 with a late goal scored by youngster debutant Cole Basset, goal that helped the team finish 2021 with a record-breaking streak: 17 games won in just a year. With a 17-2-3 record, US Soccer achieved its most prolific year.

On top of that, they managed to beat Mexican National Team on the three encounters they had in 2021, letting Mexico and CONCACAF teams know who is the King of the conference.

Wins over Mexico helped US reach 11th place in FIFA Ranking

USMNT started the year on the 22^nd spot of the FIFA Ranking. Up until May, the highest spot the reached was 20. But from June onward, they started escalating spots as they were able to reach the 10^th spot of the FIFA Ranking on August, right after winning both CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup.

On June 6, the US came from behind to beat Mexico by a score of 3-2 after trailing since the first minute, when Tecatito Corona opened the score for Mexico. The US managed to tie the score at 27’ with a goal by Gio Reyna.

At the end of the game, Diego Lainez scored what seemed to be the goal that would give Mexico the trophy, but four minutes later Weston McKennie scored the equalizer that send the game to overtime.

Pulisic, via penalty kick, would then put USMNT on front for the first time in the game and the definitive score, which helped them become CONCACAF Nations League Champions.

Both teams faced off again just a month later, in the Final of CONCACAF Gold Cup. On this rematch, both teams didn’t have a margin for error, hence the reason that the game, again, went to overtime.

When both parties were thinking about the penalty kick round, Miles Robinson managed to score the first and only goal of the game at 117’.

Finally, the third and last game they disputed on 2021 was played last November. This time for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The match played on Cincinnati repeated the infamous “dos a cero” score, making 2021 a year when the US stayed unbeaten against El Tri.

Christian Pulisic managed to open the score at 74’ and Weston McKennie put the final 2-0 that gave the W to the Stars and Stripes at 85'. Unfortunately for them, they also lost Miles Robinson, as he got a red card in the last minutes of the game.

FIFA Rankings

1. Belgium                          1828.25 points

2. Brazil                               1826.35 points

3. France                             1786.15 points

4. England                          1755.25 points

5. Argentina                       1750.51 points

6. Italy                                  1740.77 points

7. Spain                                1704.75 points

8. Portugal                          1660.25 points

9. Denmark                        1654.54 points

10. Netherlands               1653.73 points

11. United States             1648.51 points

12. Germany                     1648.33 points

13. Switzerland                 1642.83 points

14. Mexico                         1638.3 points

15. Croatia                          1620.74 points